Book support



April 20, 1926.

G. A JOHNSON BOOK SUPPORT Filed Nov. 16. 1925 2 Sheets-Shet 1 U Qwmmtoz 4 287; lyefofiyacy April 20 1926. 1,581,742

G. A. JOHNSON BOOK SUPPORT Filed NOV- 16, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 28 2 22 a/ :9 Hm 1 gwoe'nto'c W 7- WWF Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

GLENN ANDREW JOHNSON, OF McPI-IERSON, KANSAS.

BOOK SUPPORT.

Application filed November-v16 1923. Serial 675,172.

To all whom it may concern."

that I, G ENN JOHNSON,

Be itknown v a citizen of the United States, residing at McPherson, in theicounty of McPherson and State of Kansas, have invented certain new 1 and useful Improvements n Book Supports,

of which the following is specification.

This invention relates to a support. for holding a book, magazine, newspaper, picture or mirror at various angles between two extremes, the device being thus adjust able to suit the position. of the user.

An important object is the provision of a support provided with means for holding a hooker magazine open at theproper angle so that each page willjbe approximately in a .plane perpendicular to the visual axesof the eyes of the reader so that strain will be avoided. g i V Another-objectis the provision of aldevice of this character provided with leaf engaging means for positively maintaining the leaves against casual turning, this I element-or member being deformable so as to release the pages or leaves by an extremely simple operation.

Still another object is the provision of a holder of this character .which is so constructed that when notin use it may be folded into a compact bundle, the leaf hold ing .memberoperating, in this instance, to maintain the various parts in their collapsed position. v V p 1 7 An additional object is the provision of a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, .eflicien t and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art. ,lVith the aboveand other objects and advantages in view, .the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimedand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective viewof the device set up for use. i

Figure 2is a detail perspective viewshowing theiupper ends of the various supporting members disconnected.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation oft-he horizontal support.

Figure lis a detail cross section on the line 4-.4 of Figure 3. i

Figure 5 is anedge elevation of the device showing it folded or collapsed.

, Figure 6 is a front elevation :thereof or .L

view at right angles to Figure :5.

'Figure 7 is a detail view on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Referring more particularly to thevdraw ings, the numerals 10 and 11 designate the two main .or front uprights which are formed as elongated stripsof suitable matei rial, preferably metal, which may be nickel plated or otherwise finished to have axp1-eas .ing appearance and to avoid rusting. These .two members are designed tobe pivotally connected at their upper ends and for this reason the former is formed with an elo-ne gateds1ot 12 which is adapted to register with acircular hole 13 in the latter. )The (upper end of the member llis angularlyideflected, as indicated at 14, and it is .this .deflected end which is not only formed with the hole 18 :but also with a .pair of spaced slits or cuts15 whichfdefinea tongue '16 which may be bent out, if necessary, to form a prolongation of the hole 13. d p Associated with the .main members-10 and 11 is a leg or .brace 17 which is likewise formed as an elongated strip having its up perend cutto definea central tongue 18 terminating in a T-shaped head 19. The formation of this central tongue also definesa pair'of side tongues 20 which are curved in a;direction which is opposite tothe direction of curvature of the tongue 18 The head 19 is intended to be inserted andin fact is .in-

'serted through the slot 12 and vhole 13, it be- 26 and 27.

the resultant slot. engage against the rear side of the angularly deflected upper end of the member 11 so that.

the proper bracing action will be had. The lower ends of the members 10, 11 and 17 are shod with rubber tips or feet' 21-to-prevent marring or scratching the top of a table or other surface upon which the device may be used. I

Connecting the members 10 and 11 near the lower ends thereof, is a horizontal supporting bar 22 which is pivotally connected at 23 and respectively. is ofl'set, as indicated at 25, while near the pivot 24 it is doubly offset, as indicated at The offsetting is particularly for the purpose of permitting folding of all the strips into" compact positionpas shown in Figure 5 and also to define sup;

porting means for the'cover or back of a.

' book, magazine or the like. i r 'The leaf retaining means 18 of a deformable nature and is formed from a single length of wire indicated broadly by the nu meral 28, the central portion of the wire be ing bent upon itself, as shown at 29, to de fine what may be 'called arms 30 which lie in a plane rearwardly of the plane of the bar 22 and which are formedat their meeting ends with a downwardly and forwardly and ,then upwardly arranged hook 31 which is adapted to be engaged for pulling. the arms ends of the bar 22. and

30 out of engagement or contactfwiththe leaves of the book or magazine to permit turning thereof. The end' portions 32 of this wire member 28' liefagainst the'oifset extend through holes 33 in the bar, from which point the endsof the wire are brought back in contact with the rearside of the endsof the b'arand held beneath tongues'34'gwhich are stamped out from thelbar 22 and which are coiled or clenched about th'eterminals-of the wire.

"In the "use of the device for'holding a newspaper or the like, it is employed in substantially the same manner as an easel and it can be used in this same manner for supporting a picture, mirror or the like. In rder to effect holding of 'abook or magazine, the back is engaged against the front members 10and 11 with the lower edge of the back or coverengaged upon the forward- 1y offset ends of the bar.2 2.. The arms '30 which constitute the leaf holding means engage resiliently against the leaves and prevent them from accidental turning so that obstructing the user may read in comfort and without holding the reading matter manually.

Whenever it is desired to turnthe leaves, it 18 merely necessary that the operator engage a finger within the hook 31 and pull-down- The ends of the tongues 20 7 2a with the members '10 and 11, Near the pivot 23 the bar 22' hrace'l'l' is turned so that the head 19 will register with the slot 12, whereupon the member 10 is disengaged from the head 19 and swung to lie flat against the rear side of and in registration with the bar 22, the slotted end terminating at the offset 26. The member 11 lies flat against the rear sideof the member 10,- while' the brace 17 is turned, without disconnection from the member 11 and is swung thereagainst, the parts being then arranged. as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 When this'is done the hook 31 is engagedun'der the assembled strips while the arms 30eng'age over them or at the opposite edge so that the various strips will be positively' held in a neat and compact bundle which may be easily carried within the pocket or within a traveling bagor the like.

' From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed, inexpensive, neat and attractive, and highly efficient support for the purpose specified which will perform all the functions for which it is intended and-which, on accountof its simplicity, is practically incapable of getting out of order. 7 j

.While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention; it is 'ofcourse to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in, the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. Iclaim: V V 1. A device of the character described comprising supporting legs pivotally connected in upwardly converging relation, a

brace pivotally" connected with-said legs, means. for limiting swinging movement of the brace'with respectto the legs, a bar pivotally connected with the legs, "and leaf holding means on the bar, thelegs and bar being foldable to hem registration, and said leaf holding means operating to hold the legs and bar in folded position. i

2. A device of. the character described comprising supporting legs pivotally connected in upwardly converging relation, a brace pivotally connected with said legs, means for limiting swinging movement of the brace with respect to the legs, a bar pivotally connected with the legs, and leaf holding means on the bar, one of said legs being detachable from the other and from said brace whereby to be, swingableto lie against'thebar, and the other leg and brace being swingable to lie together in registration with the bar and first. named leg, .said leaf holding means being 'engageable with the folded bar, legs and brace for holding the same in registering position.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of leg members connected by a cross bar pivotally connected therewith and arranged in upwardly converging relation, the upper end of one leg being formed with an elongated slot and the other being formed with a hole and slits aranged in spaced relation and leading thereto to define a bendable tongue, and a brace having its upper end formed with a constricted neck and a head insertible through said hole and slot and held by said tongue. i

4:. In a device of the character described, a pair of leg members connected by a cross bar pivotally connected therewith and arranged in upwardly converging relation, the upper end of one leg being formed with an elongated slot and the other being formed with a hole and slits arranged in spaced relation and leading thereto to define a bendable tongue, and a brace having its upper end formed with a constricted neck and a head insertible through said hole and slot and held by said tongue, the brace being further formed with curved tongues arrange laterally of said neck and engageable with the to limit movement of the brace rear side of the second named legv whereby with respect thereto.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of leg members connected by a cross bar pivotally connected therewith and arranged in upwardly converging relation, the upper end of one leg being formed with an elongated slot and the other being formed. 1

with a hole and slits arranged in spaced relation and leading thereto to define a bendable tongue, and a brace having its upper end formed with a'constricted neck and ahead insertible through said hole and slot and held by said tongue, the brace being further a formed with curved tongues arranged laterally of said neck and engageable with the rear side of the second named leg whereby to limit movement of the brace thereto,

superposed v v with respect and said brace. being rotatable to a bring the head thereof into registration with 

